Carrie Bourn, 62, is Michael's biggest supporter -- and vice versa. Bourn considers the term, "mama's boy," a compliment. He lives close to the Houston house where he grew up with Carrie and his father, Raymond. He spends a good majority of his free time hanging around with his parents, especially Carrie.

"She's a special lady to me," Bourn said. "One of a kind. And I mean that."

Bourn has hit safely in 27 of the Braves' 34 contests. He is 6-for-12 in the first two games of the three-game set in St. Louis. Thanks in part to Bourn, who triggers the attack from his leadoff spot, the Braves have scored two runs in the first inning of the last two games on the way to 9-7 and 7-2 victories.

The former University of Houston standout is 14-for-34 through the first eight games of the nine-day trip, and has reached base via a hit or walk in 54 of his last 113 plate appearances.

Carrie Bourn watches all the Braves games on television and keeps tabs on every one of her son's at-bats.

"She is special," Michael said. "Anybody that has a mother knows that. Without her, [I] wouldn't be in this game. You thank her every year you have her. You cherish these moments."

Bourn, who is second in the National League with 15 multihit games, will step to the plate with a pink bat on Sunday in honor of his mother and Breast Cancer Awareness Day.